Fundamental research on erosion in magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters. Annual technical report, Oct 90-Oct 91

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:6081847

Subramaniam, V V

Significant developments have been made toward a comprehensive theory of Onset and erosion in steady-state self-field MPD thrusters. The Back-EMF Onset theory predicts that the middle region of the cathode (i.e. away from the inlet and exit) and the near inlet and exit regions of the anode are susceptible to severe erosion. This erosion occurs due to excessive electron bombardment at a critical value of the local sheath voltage drop (or current density). Furthermore, this theory predicts that the regions of potential and magnetic field oscillations observed at Onset occur predominantly in the high current density regions of the cathode (i.e. near the inlet and exit regions) and in the low current density regions at the anode. Past experimental observations at Princeton, and recent observations from Stuttgart support the predictions of this theory. The research described here provides a summary of the accomplishments and progress made during the final year under grant AFOSR-87-0360.

• Research Organization: Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
• OSTI ID: 6081847
• Report Number(s): AD-A-241809/3/XAB; CNN: AFOSR-87-0360
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300100 -- Direct Energy Conversion-- MHD Generators
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330000* -- Advanced Propulsion Systems
CATHODES
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EROSION
FERMIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IRRADIATION
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PLASMA
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
THRUSTERS